On Thanksgiving Day, The Chronicle launched its annual Season of Sharing Fund campaign. As we do every year, we asked you, our readers, to help us provide financial assistance and goods to more than 4,500 struggling families, plus an additional 2 million meals through local food banks.

Perhaps it was bold of us to print that we wanted to surpass the $6.8 million raised the previous year. And though we presented you in the weeks following Thanksgiving with a number of poignant stories of individuals whose lives have been touched by the fund, we also know that there are many Bay Area charities for you to choose from.

Thanks to you, we raised a record $7.1 million in donations. Thanks to you, we believe Season of Sharing to be the most successful newspaper fund in the country.

The fund is unique because every dollar donated goes straight to individuals in need. All administrative costs are covered by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Foundation, which founded the Season of Sharing Fund nearly three decades ago.

Ira Hirschfield, president of the fund and a Chronicle Season of Sharing board member, has seen the charity evolve over the years: "I've been there since its beginning, and it's simply astounding to me that the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund has raised $98 million for our neighbors in need over these past 27 years. This year's record-breaking total will be used to help thousands of people struggling with a debilitating life crisis - an unforeseen emergency that could happen to any one of us. Year after year, the Bay Area shows such generosity and caring. I just can't think of a better place to call home."

We at The Chronicle are very proud of our generous community. We knew the fund held promise when $670,000 was raised that first year, 1986. We never dreamed we'd reach a milestone of more than $7 million.

Publisher Jeff Johnson sums up the sentiment of our newsroom - and, undoubtedly, every individual and family helped by the fund: "It is truly heartwarming to see support for the Season of Sharing reach a record level. We can't thank our donors enough for their generosity."